Mechanical irrigator



March 21, 1933. o. MELIN 1902,412

MECHANICAL IRRIGATOR Filed April 14. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 21 1933 o. MELIN 1,902,412

ArvnszcHANIcM. IRRIGATOR A Filed April 14. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qv N March 21, 1933.

O. MELIN MECHANICAL IRRIGATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 14. 1931 Cfttornegs- March 2l, 1933.

o. MELIN ,902,412 MECHANICAL IRRIGATOR Filed' April 14. 1931 4 sheets-sheet 4 12 uw /Zl Buventor ZZZ Melzlm afg@ Mme E (Ittornegs.

Patented Mar. 2l, 1933 UNITED STATES "PATE-Nr OFFICE or'ro MEL-IN, or LIVINGSTON, MONTANA, essIGNon or voNnIIALI To CLARENCE ALLEN, or LIVINGSTON, MONTANAy Y Y MECHANICAL InnIGAron Applica/cian mea April` 14,

The present inyention relates to improve'- ments in mechanical irrigators and has for an object to provide a mechanical irrigator adapted to travel along the irrigation ditches having the functions of a traveling dam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-controlled machine for moving along by yits own power guidedby theditch for the purpose of damming and disbursing the water from the ditch over the adjacent land to be irrigated. Y y

A further object of the invention resides in providing a machine containing its own power for propelling a iexible dam along in the irrigation ditch or in one of the lateral ditches, and being so arranged that it will be guided by the banks of theditch and is adapted to be automatically stopped at 'or near the end of the ditch. c l

With the foregoing and'other objects in view, the invention will be more fully .de-

scribed hereinafter, and will be more par? ticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. i

In the drawings, wherein like symbolsv refer to like or corresponding partsy throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mechanical irrigator in operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation'of they machine.

Figure 3 1s a side elevation as seen from vthe opposite side of that shown in Figure 2, with parts broken away. j

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and 11 designate longitudinal beams, and 12 represents the transverse beam at the c front extending across and f secured to the longitudinal beams 10 and 11.

At the front of thedevice is a vertical i standard 13, which may be secured to the frame of the machine in any appropriate. Way and which serves to support the guide disks or wheels 14 which are preferably of a concavo-Convex construction with the convex surfaces disposed outward and` in position to engage the side walls of the irrigation tral position.

v the same.

1931. serai Nb. 530,124.v j Y ditch 15 as shown to best advantage in Figure These wheels are mounted upon an axle, the Vend portions of which are indicated at 16. y The axle is carried by the standard 13, U-bolts 1'( being indicated as forfuse in securingthis axleto theV beam. Thefends 16 of the axle extend forwardly and downward# in divergent relation for carrying the vdisksli atan angle, whereby their convexY surfaces willengage 'the side walls of the ditch and tend tofholdthe machine ina! cenvThe front part `ofthe machine is supported `by* a swivel'guide wheel 18 mounted fin'the lower fork 19 and also in an `upper diagonally extending'fork 20, both forks being* secured to a pivot rod 21 journalled linv appropriate brackets 22 carried by the rearside of the standard 13. This pivot rod 21 also extends through the transversefbolster 12 to further strengthen dinal beams lOand 11 at the rear of the machine and upon an axle 23 is a traction wheel 24 having cleats or lugs 25 for giving traction. rlhis traction wheel 24 is adapted t0 Vtravel in the bottom of the ditch and acts as the main support of the machine.,`

Y llhe'mac'hine is driven by an internal combustion or otherengine or motor 26 mounted -upon the frame work and having a variable vpulley 27 for driving through a belt 28 a Vsimilar.cooperating pulley 29. rlhis latter pulley is mounted on a shaft 30, which shaft carries a vp1n1on`31 disposed 1n mesh with a gear wheel 32 upon aj ack shaft 33, rlhe jack shaft 33 in turn carries apinion 34. disposed in mesh with aA gear wheel upon a power Journalled between ythe .longitu-v tov vso

shaft 36. VThese' various shafts are journalled in appropriate bearings in the frame of the machine, which includes a diagonal beam37 which has its front portion secured to the transverse bolster 12 andiits rear end divergent away from the longitudinal frame beam 11. n, At'the rear portion of the framework, theshaft 23 may befextended over to the diagonalbeam 37 and be secured thereto,

pose.

but a brace might equally well serve this puri Dao wardly beyond the diagonal beam 37, this wheel -41 being carried upon the outer end portion 42 of a crank shaft, the mainy portion" 43 of Vwhich is journalled cross-wise in the main frame of the machine.v The crank portion 44 of the shaft is adapted to move over a perforated plate 451 fastened to the .diagonalbeam 37 and which plate is adapted to receive an eye-bolt 46 or otherfasten- V1ng,vw.hereby the crank portion 44 of the shaft may be secured in adjusted position. This is for the purpose of raising and lowering the wheel 41 to correctly align the ma'- chine horizontally and to get the properlevel and ground adjustments.

Extending transversely of the machine and beneath the beams 10, 11 and 37 is a dam or curtain which may consist of loose canvas 47 which is hung from the bars 48 and 49 held to the framework of the machine by bolts or l c 4: b other frlstenmgs 50 The Canvas 7 may e Y water strikes thcdam, 1t causes 1t tov be flexpartially supported and shaped by light Vspring steel bands 5l, which springs having riveted at the bottom portions thereof a band of leather belting or leather strap 52.

In operation, the machine moves along in the ditch under its own motive power and being propelled by contact of the pulley wheel or traction wheel 24 in the bottom of the irrigation ditch. Of course, the engine will provide for the driving of the machine at variable speeds, as required. The machine may be driven along through the lateral ditches,

which are small ditches ext-ending olf the thus compelling the machine to follow the v curves in the ditch. Upon either of the disks main ditch for the purpose of actually diverting the water on to the land. The water is actually spread out over the ground from the lateral ditches, and in these lateral ditches, the machine is adapted to travel, being propelled as indicated.

rlhe land or idler wheel 41 travels on the surface of the field above the lateral ditch and is adjustable, as previously explained, to different heights, so as to accommodate the machine to any depth of ditch within limits. This wheel 41 is for the purpose of levelling and stcadying the Ymachine,`which is auto matically guided by the disks 14 at the front,

14 coming in contact with the bankrof the lateral ditch, the pressure of the disk upon the bank causes the machine to move on the pivot wheel 18, and thus the machine is kept in the ditch.

The impounding and distributing of the irrigation water is successfully and easily accomplished by the dam or curtain 47 which completely takes the contour of the ditch under the pressure of thewaterwhich is dammed by the canvas. n

The machine, when started, travels slowly across the field along the line of the lateral ditch and distributes the water evenly over the field. YNo attention is needed from the operator than to start the machine in the ditch, and consequently, the operator is released for the performance of other duties.` It will thus be seen that the irrigator is of simple construction and simpe m operation and is light and easily handled. The stopping of the machine in the far end of the lateraly ditch may be acl complished without personal attention by 'a stake set in the ditch which engages' a lightweight stickpconnected tothe switch of the motor 26 and projected lout in front" of the machine. Upon striking the obstruction, this stick is forced back, thus throwing off the switch.

The dam is dragged along behind the irri- 'gator and is held in place by the weight of the water in theA ditch. The irrigator operates from the upper to thelower end of the ditch and travels inthe same direction in which the water is iiowing. As soon as' the ible, and the weight of the column of water makes it conform to the contours of the ditch. Canvas becomes quite heavy when it has been thoroughly soaked and as soon as it is saturated, the water will be dammed up'and the canvas'dam will remain in place and will move only as 1t 1s dragged along by the mev clianical irrigator.

It will be obvious that various changes in the Construction, combination-and arrangement of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not meanto limit the invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

' Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent A of the United States is frame, an engine on the frame for driving the same `through the fieldmeans for vguidlng the frame above the ditch, and a dam carried by the frame for extending into the ditch. v

4. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, wheels for supporting the frame and adapted to move in the ditch, guide means at the front of the frame also for moving in the ditch, and a dam carried by the frame and extending into the ditch.

5. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, wheels on the frame moving in a ditch, a balance Vwheel on the frame for moving on the land, and a dam carried on the frame for movin the ditch.

6. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, a traction Wheel on the frame for moving in the ditch, a guide swivel wheel at the front of the frame aiso moving in the ditch, guide means at the front portion of the frame forengaging the sides of the ditch, and a dam carried by the frame.

7. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, a traction wheel at the rear portion. of the frame, means on the frame for driving the traction wheel, a swivel Wheel at the front portion of the frame for traveling in the ditch, guide means in front of said swivel wheel, and a dam carried by the frame behind the swivel wheel.

8. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, wheels mounted on the frame for travelling in the ditch, a dam carried by said frame, and an adjustable land wheel also connected with said frame.

9. In a mechanical irrigato-r, a frame, wheels mounted on said frame and in the ditch, a diagonai beam forming a portion of said frame, a land wheel, a crank shaft on the frame for carrying said land wheel, and means on the frame for adjusting said crank shaft to vary the elevation of the land wheel.

10. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, a traction wheel on the frame, a guide Wheel on the frame, an engine installed on the frame, a gear reduction arrangement between said engine and traction wheel, guide means carried by said frame, and a dam also carried by said frame. l y

11. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, wheels supporting the frame for movement in a ditch, and disks mounted on the front of said frame for guiding the samein the ditch. 12. In a mechanical irrigator, a frame, wheels on the frame for driving in a ditch, a dam carried by said frame and disks having their convex sides presented outwardly to the side walls of the ditch and being mounted diagonally with respect to the line of travel and to the vertical.

13. In a mechanical irrigator, a wheeled frame, and a dam carried by said frame and including a piece of flexible material and resilient means bearing on said material.v

14. In a mechanical irrigator, a wheeled frame, and a dam carried by said frame and r including a piece of canvas extending transversely beneathsaid frame and into the ditch,

and at springs for engaging said canvas, and

leather pieces on said canvas.

15. The combination in an irrigation water distributor of a frame having a traction wheel adapted to support it in part and a dam connected to said frame and adapted to Ibe moved along a Vlateral thereby and-having a shape such that water flowing in the lateral acts on the dam to cause a down pressure on said traction wheel. f

16./ The combination in an irrigation Water distributor, the combination of a wheeled frame, a dam fixed to said frame and adapted i to minimize the flow of water past itself and guide disks fixed to said frame and adapted to steer the frame to keep the dam in a given lateral as the distributor moves along it.V

17. A frame having a dam thereon arranged to beheld in a lateral, means for .pro-v pelling said frame and guideson said frame Y adapted tosteer said frame so Vas to maintain said dam in a given lateral while being pro.

pelled by said means. o l

18. A self propelled frame having a dam thereon and guides on'said frame adapted to project into a lateral and to steer said frame so tlhat said dam will move along a given latera V19. A self propelled frame having a dam thereon and concavo-convex kguides on said frame so arranged that their convex faces may contact with the sides of a lateral.

20. The combination in an irrigation water distributor, the combination of a wheeled frame, a dam fixed to said frame and adapted to minimize the flow of water past itself and guide disks fixed to said frame and adapted to steer the frame to keep the dam in a given lateral as the distributor moves along it, said guide disks being adapted to run in the lateral along which -the dam moves.

21. A self-propelled frame having'a dam thereon and concavo-conveX guides on said frame so arranged that their convex faces may contact with the sides of a lateral, said guides being at the extreme forward end of the frame.

oTTo MELIN. 

